Throughout
the years, we’ve grown familiar with the seasonal patterns of our dooryard bird
population. We have a general sense when birds will arrive and when they will
depart; some, by virtue of their markings or behavior, we’ve come to know over
multiple years like seasonal tenants.
Every
once in a while we are surprised, and today there was a new bird underneath the
feeder looking through the cast off sunflower seeds for bits and pieces of
detritus. Our bird book indicated it as a fox sparrow, and its markings and
behaviors seemed just right.
It
searched for food much as does the eastern towhee, kicking its two spindly legs
backwards rapidly in what looks like a square dance move, hop back, hop back,
search, search. It would repeat this over and again.
The
other finches and sparrows didn’t seem to pay it much attention, though I do
wonder if they marveled or were in aghast of its feeding behavior.
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